Married To My Ruthless Mafia King

The rain fell relentlessly over the streets of Rome, turning the city's glowing lights into blurred streaks across the wet pavement. Aurora Bennett pulled her coat tighter around herself as she hurried down the sidewalk. Her heart was pounding. She wasn't supposed to be here. Professor Romano had asked her to deliver a confidential case file to one of Italy's most influential business men at the Grand Bellagio Hotel. It was a simple favor—or so she had believed. She checked her watch. 8:47 p.m. "If I drop this off now, I can still catch the last train home." She stepped into the luxurious hotel lobby, where crystal chandeliers glittered overhead and guests dressed in designer suits moved with effortless elegance. Aurora suddenly felt out of place. A law student carrying a worn leather satchel didn't belong among millionaires. She approached the reception desk. "Excuse me." The receptionist smiled politely. "How may I help you, Miss?" "I'm here to deliver some documents to Mr. Alessandro De Luca." The receptionist's smile vanished. Her fingers froze above the keyboard. "You... have an appointment?" Aurora frowned. "My professor said he was expecting these files." The receptionist glanced nervously toward the private elevators before lowering her voice. "Penthouse floor." "Private elevator." "Don't stop anywhere." Aurora blinked. "Thank you." As she walked away, she couldn't shake the strange feeling that everyone in the lobby was watching her. The private elevator climbed silently. Thirty... Thirty-five... Forty... A soft chime echoed. The doors slid open. The hallway beyond was silent. Too silent. Dark marble floors stretched toward two enormous black doors guarded by men in tailored black suits. Each carried an earpiece. Each watched her without blinking. Aurora forced a smile. "I... I'm here to see Mr. De Luca." One of the guards stepped forward. "The documents." She handed over the envelope. He checked the seal before nodding. "Wait." The doors opened. Aurora expected an office. Instead... She found herself staring into a room that looked like a royal palace. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the lights of Rome. An enormous fireplace burned quietly. Expensive paintings decorated the walls. But it wasn't the room that stole her breath. It was the man standing beside the window. Tall. Broad shoulders. Perfectly tailored black suit. His dark hair was neatly combed back. A silver watch gleamed beneath the cuff of his sleeve. He looked no older than thirty. Yet the calm authority surrounding him made the room feel smaller. He turned. Cold gray eyes met hers. For a heartbeat... The world stood still. "So." His deep voice was smooth. "This is Professor Romano's messenger." Aurora swallowed. "Y-Yes." She stepped forward and offered the envelope. "These are the documents." He accepted them. Without opening the file, he asked, "What's your name?" "Aurora Bennett." "Bennett." He repeated it slowly. As though committing it to memory. "You study law." It wasn't a question. "Yes." "What year?" "My final year." He gave a slight nod. "You may leave." Relief flooded her. "Thank you." She turned toward the door. Then— Gunshots exploded somewhere below. Bang! Bang! Bang! Aurora screamed. The guards instantly reached for their weapons. Another burst of gunfire echoed through the building. One guard rushed inside. "Boss!" "They're here." The room transformed in seconds. Hidden doors opened. More armed men flooded the hallway. Alessandro remained perfectly still. His expression never changed. "Seal every entrance." "Yes, Boss." "No one leaves." Aurora's stomach dropped. "What... what's happening?" Nobody answered. Suddenly— The lights flickered. The windows shattered. Crash! Glass rained across the marble floor. Masked gunmen rappelled down the outside of the building, firing automatic rifles through the broken windows. Chaos erupted. "Protect the Boss!" Bullets ripped through the room. Aurora threw herself behind a marble pillar, covering her head as explosions of glass echoed around her. She had never been so terrified. One attacker lunged toward her, mistaking her for one of Alessandro's people. He raised his gun. Aurora froze. This is how I die... Before he could pull the trigger— Bang! A single shot rang out. The attacker collapsed. Aurora looked up. Alessandro still stood exactly where he had been. A pistol rested calmly in his hand. His gray eyes never left the battlefield. He hadn't even flinched. He had saved her life. Their eyes met for a brief second. "Stay down," he ordered. It wasn't loud. Yet somehow everyone obeyed. The firefight continued. Within minutes... It was over. The surviving attackers fled. Silence settled over the penthouse. Smoke drifted through the broken windows. Aurora's hands trembled uncontrollably. She had just witnessed men being killed. Real bullets. Real blood. This wasn't a nightmare. It was real. Alessandro walked toward one of the dead attackers. He crouched. Then slowly pulled a silver coin from the man's pocket. A black wolf was engraved on one side. His expression darkened. "So..." "They've finally declared war." Aurora stared at the strange coin. "What is that?" Alessandro looked at her. For the first time... His calm expression showed the slightest hint of concern. "You saw too much." Aurora's heart stopped. "I... I didn't mean to." "I don't even know who those people were." "I swear I won't tell anyone." The guards exchanged uneasy glances. One stepped closer to Alessandro. "Boss..." "She can't leave." Aurora backed away. "W-What?" "I won't say a word." "I promise." Another guard spoke coldly. "Dead witnesses tell no stories." Aurora's face turned pale. She stumbled backward until her shoulders hit the wall. "No..." "Please..." "I have a mother waiting for me." "I don't want to die." The room fell silent. Every guard looked toward Alessandro. Waiting. One word from him... And her life would end. He studied her for several long seconds. Then he spoke. "Cancel the execution." The guards looked stunned. Aurora blinked in disbelief. One of them frowned. "Boss?" Alessandro never took his eyes off Aurora. "If my enemies know she's alive..." "They'll hunt her." He walked toward her until only a single step separated them. Aurora could barely breathe. Then he uttered seven words that changed her life forever. "Prepare the wedding. She will be my wife." The room froze. Aurora stared at him in complete shock. "What...?" Her voice barely came out as a whisper. "You can't be serious." But Alessandro's expression never changed. He simply turned to his men and said, "Tomorrow."